A proposed federal ban on all flavoured e-cigarette and vape products is sparking criticism from the industry in Kelowna.
Health Canada proposed last week a ban on the distribution of all flavoured vape products except tobacco, mint and menthol.
That is news has been difficult for vape store owners like Austin Robertson and his brother Myles, who own 11 vape shops across Canada, including one in Kelowna. Austin says this new law would mean those who were trying to quit smoking by using an e-cigarettes will just go back to tobacco use.
“Adult vapers are just going to be pushed back to smoking traditional tobacco, and that’s what the vape industry has always been about, is getting adults off of combustible tobacco. If you remove the flavours, you push vapers back to smoking and that’s what this business was set out to do is help people find a healthier alternative to smoking,” said Austin.
With over 1,400 vape shops across Canada, the industry says the new law could be a death blow.
“If they remove flavours, we basically shut down, and every retailer across Canada would shut down. We ran our data on all of our shops, and basically 98 per cent of our sales are flavoured e-liquid to adults. You remove the flavours, then you remove the option for people to make healthy decision like this,” said Austin
Myles Robertson is equally frustrated with the potential of his business and many others shutting down. He says people will still find a way to get these flavoured products without supporting their local vape shops.
“These ingredients that it takes to make flavoured e-juices can be bought from any grocery store, online, and effectively it will put the black market back in business as well, and those people will be buying and selling with zero regulations on who they can buy and sell to, meaning kids will get their hands on it a lot easier,” said Myles.
Castanet recently ran an online poll to find out if people were in favour of the flavour ban. Just under 9,500 people responded, with 50 per cent of the votes saying they agreed with the ban, 43 per cent said they were against it, and six per cent say they are unsure how they feel.
The Canadian Cancer Society welcomed Ottawa’s proposed flavour restrictions as a step in the right direction. But the group called for the draft regulations to be amended during the 75-day consultation period, which launched last week, to add mint and menthol to the list of banned flavours, citing their appeal to youth.
Also last week, the federal government finalized regulations that lower the maximum nicotine concentration for vaping products sold in Canada to 20 mg/ml from 66 mg/ml.
The nicotine cap will take effect for e-cigarette manufacturers on July 8, and retailers will have to pull products that exceed the limit after July 23.
A Statistics Canada report released in March suggests that about one in seven young Canadians reported vaping in the previous month in 2019.
“Vaping is putting a new generation of Canadians at risk of nicotine addiction,” Health Minister Patty Hadju said in a statement. “These new measures build on our efforts to stop young Canadians from vaping.”
with files from the Canadian Press
Photo: Contributed
There is still time to register for the ninth annual Shoppers Drug Mart Run for Women.
The deadline to sign up for this event is midnight Friday, June 25 – with proceeds of registration and fundraising going to women’s mental health programs at CMHA Kelowna.
As a virtual event, runners and walkers across the Okanagan and in 18 communities across Canada can choose their own 5K or 10K, run or walk, route between July 4 and 11 and submit their race time via the Run for Women app.
The Run will culminate in a live-streamed Run for Women Day event on Sunday, July 11, and all participants are invited to join the celebration.
Registration to participate in the run is $50.
Run for Women is Canada’s first and only women’s and girls’ running series, benefitting women’s mental health initiatives and local charities across the country.
In Kelowna, every dollar raised by local runners supports mothers, daughters, and friends in our community through the mental health programs and services offered at CMHA Kelowna.
To sign up visit RunForWomen.ca.
Photo: Wayne Moore
RDCO Chair Gail Givens
More jobs have been added in the Central Okanagan in recent months than were lost due to the pandemic.
So, the Regional Economic Recovery Task Force is winding down its efforts, and handing continued economic recovery work back to the Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission.
“While we realize that it’s not a completely even playing field, we are encouraged by positive signs for a regional economic rebound in many of our industry sectors,” said Co-chair Gail Given. “According to Statistics Canada as of April 2021, 136% of the jobs lost in the Central Okanagan have now been rehired. That’s an overall gain of 13,100 jobs.”
The task force was initiated by Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran and the mayors of West Kelowna, Lake Country and Peachland, as well as the RDCO chair and the Chief of Westbank First Nation, back in April 2020. The aim was to give communities a forum to identify recovery needs, advocate for stimulus funding and work on areas of collaboration.
In the 15 months since its creation, the task force has:
- Connected to the region’s business community through the COEDC hosted Industry Roundtables and State of the Economy sessions with the business community to collect information that helped develop an advocacy strategy, identify gaps in aid programs and guide discussions with Provincial Ministers
- Guided and endorsed the 2021 Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission (COEDC) Priorities Plan which was updated to reflect the ongoing realities of the pandemic and its impact on local businesses
- Endorsed the COEDC Moving Forward to 2025 Economic Development Strategy
“We have reason to be optimistic in our region. B.C. is the only province in Canada that has already seen its economy recover beyond what was lost during the pandemic and the Kelowna area is poised to recover faster than most. The resiliency of our local businesses has been nothing short of inspirational and we look forward to continuing to support local,” said Mayor Colin Basran.
Photo: Contributed
The vision that PC Urban had five years ago for a part of Kelowna’s north end has turned into reality.
The company wanted to create a combination of retail, residential and commercial space on its three acres on the northeast corner of Clement Avenue and Richter Street, and it has done just that with its Packer’s Junction development. The Lodges features 158 residential rentals that are fully leased and full of residents, and Powerhouse is a commercial and office strata development that is fully sold out as well. Businesses will start moving in early next month.
“Kelowna’s north end is undergoing a significant transformation, and our development is one piece of the puzzle,” PC Urban CEO Brent Sawchyn said in a press release. “We’ve seen a huge demand from local businesses and residents wanting to locate in the area, and we are thrilled to now see them working and living there.
“There’s a new vibrancy that’s just starting to take root in the area, proof to us that our gamble on the neighbourhood has paid off. It’s really exciting to be part of the renaissance envisioned by the City of Kelowna and planners at the north end of downtown.”
There is 19,000 feet of retail space at ground level of The Lodges, and 70% of it has been leased. That includes Lolo and Spence, a children’s boutique that opened at the end of May.
“The location has exceeded my expectations—there’s so much foot traffic,” Lolo and Spence owner Shauna Cookson said. “We were only the second business to open, so I wasn’t sure how it would go, but I’ve been blown away by how busy we were right off the bat.”
Other businesses at The Lodges include a pizzeria and brew pub, dentist, café, and candle and e-bike shops. Some of the businesses that will be setting up shop in Powerhouse are from the beauty, fitness, pharmaceutical, chiropractic, legal, insurance and telecommunications industries.
Photo: RCMP
Lorence Williams
The Kelowna RCMP conducted two wellness checks at a home the day before it was the site of an alleged murder, sparking an investigation from B.C.’s police watchdog.
Lorence Earl Williams, 40, was charged on June 1 with the murder of Thomas Chadwick in relation to a death on May 30 at a home in the 3400-block of Sexsmith Road.
Police said at the time they were called to the home just after 10 p.m. on May 30 for a report of a deceased man. They immediately launched a manhunt for Williams, arresting him with the help from a tip from the public later that day.
The Independent Investigations Office of B.C. has now revealed that officers actually visited the site of the alleged homicide twice on May 29, the day prior to the crime.
Officers and members of the Police and Crisis Team, which includes a mental health nurse, responded to two calls to the home regarding the “wellness” of Williams.
The IIO said Williams “departed the residence after the second police attendance.”
The next day, a different man who lived at the home, Thomas Chadwick, was found dead outside and Williams has been charged with murder. Those who knew the victim have told Castanet they had relayed about the mental health of Williams to police prior to the alleged homicide.
“The IIO was notified of the incident on May 31 and commenced an investigation to determine if police actions or inactions may have played a role in the incident,” the IIO said in a brief statement.
The IIO is asking any person with relevant information of the incident to please contact the Witness Line toll-free at 1-855-446-8477 or via the contact form on iiobc.ca.
The IIO investigates all officer-related incidents that result in serious harm or death, whether or not there is any allegation of wrongdoing.
Photo: Madison Erhardt
The site of a homicide in the 3400-block of Sexsmith Road in Kelowna on May 30.
Photo: Contributed
OC Culinary Arts students and the OC Inspiration Box.
Okanagan College is helping to serve up some tasty treats.
A new partnership between the college and produce supplier company Farm Bound is bringing locally sourced organic foods to your doorstep with summer-ready recipes crafted by OC Culinary Arts students.
Food-lovers can now order the OC Inspiration Box from the Farm Bound website.
The box has fully portioned ingredients for recipes to make Middle Eastern Chicken Za’atar, Carrot and Radish Salad, Pea Risotto with Asparagus and a spice blend to make your own Za’atar Spice Mix.
Not only can home cooks learn new recipes but also a few culinary techniques as well thanks to several how-to videos students created, showcasing how to make each dish and sharing some tricks of the trade.
“By purchasing the OC Inspiration Box, you’re supporting our students, local businesses and hard-working families in our community,” said Stephen Speers, Okanagan College Dean of Trades and Apprenticeship. “It allows our students to demonstrate the skills they’ve learned during their program here at the College and it keeps us engaged with our community outreach initiatives regardless of the challenges the pandemic has presented.”
Farm Bound is a local supplier that bridges the gap from farm to table, supporting only local and regional farmers that grow, harvest and cultivate organically.
The OC Inspiration Box features chicken from Hoisington Organic Farms in Armstrong, chicken broth from Wild Moon Organics in Armstrong, radishes from Wise Earth Farms in Kelowna and asparagus from Sutcliffe Farms in Creston.
“We built our company around community and food – good food,” said Farm Bound CEO Jaye Siegmueller. “The college is a big part of this community and being able to incorporate students and help fulfill their learning curriculum feels incredible, especially in this current climate.”
As a mother who believes in local organic nutritional foods, Siegmueller launched Farm Bound as a way to bring a better connection between people and where they get their food from as a way of reminding them of their roots. The company offers sustainably produced foods from local farmers and producers and people can order produce year round.
Photo: Castanet Staff
You could be out of luck if you need air conditioning in time for the 40-degree temperatures this weekend.
A quick check of a handful of home improvement and appliance stores in Kelowna found just one portable air conditioner in stock, and that one has likely been snapped up by now, even with a price tag of $599.
Demand for repairs has also surged.
“The heatwave comes and it seems everyone’s AC starts to fail,” said Wil Irvine, owner of Irvine Mechanical. “The pressure that the extra heat puts on on a system is a lot, and basic maintenance like changing your filters and making sure they’re clean and stuff like that is gonna help big time.”
Irvine said his business is booked pretty far out right now.
“You can’t fit everybody in, and we don’t try to take on everybody either,” he said. “There are lots of good guys in this town, so if we’re unable to fit you in in a timely fashion, then we spread the word out for some other guys.”
If it’s an emergency, Irvine said, repair companies will typically do their best.
“You know, we definitely have the people who are in dire situations and we try to get ahead of it if we can, but ultimately, phone call number one gets the number one spot,” he said. “We try to be as fair as we can, for sure.”
Rob Gibson – Jun 24, 2021 / 4:00 am | Story: 337954
Rob Gibson
The owner of the Wild Kingdom adult store downtown Kelowna Kim Williams says she has seen a lot in her years of business, but never a theft involving a man in a wheelchair.
“Is this what Kelowna is? The guy knew he couldn’t get up and run, it’s so disgusting.”
Williams says the incident happened Tuesday at around 4:30 p.m.
“All captured on security camera video.”
The video shows a man in a wheelchair, wearing a top hat, in front of the Wild Kingdom store on Lawrence Avenue. Earlier in the video, you can see two young men walk past and appear to be minding their own business. But a few moments later, one of the men walks back towards the man in the chair.
He stops and appears to be interested in the sign in front of the store, then he quickly grabs the fanny pack and starts running away. The person in the wheelchair can be seen trying to catch the thief, unsuccessfully.
“You could see them plotting and talking. The one guy came back and the person in the wheelchair had put his fanny pack with his money and all his ID and everything. It’s so disgusting,” Williams said.
“Watching the guy wheel after them was so sad.”
Williams says the theft victim opened the door of Wild Kingdom and began yelling for his partner inside the store that he had been robbed. “He’s a nice guy and we don’t like seeing this sort of thing by our business and in downtown at all.”
Wiliams is hopeful that by sharing the video with Castanet and our readers, someone out there will recognize the suspect and some sort of justice might come out of the incident.
A Salmon Arm business owner is teaming up with the Kelowna Women’s Shelter and the Salmon Arm Safe Society to create an online platform for women who have experienced trauma.
Monique Cusson, owner of The She Shed by the Shuswap Shore retail art gallery, recently donated one of her custom-finished pieces of wood to the Kelowna Women’s Shelter. Shortly after receiving the gift, the shelter reached out to Cusson to see if she would be interested in being featured as a surviving donor.
The partnership made her more willing and open to sharing her own story of trauma and also jump on board with the new “What You Can Make Of It” platform.
Cusson describes Dec. 1, 2019 as the day her life changed forever. That day, she was nearly a murder victim, but she tells her story of survival with strength and courage.
“There is so much support out there for you. The second you’re ready to receive it, there are people there waiting to help you. You can absolutely 100 per cent do it on your own. I was broke, was risking homelessness, not sure how I was going to feed my kids, but I managed to try, and try new things and finally I found happiness,” said Cusson.
The What You Can Make Of It initiative is an online platform currently under development by the Kelowna Women’s Shelter where women can reach out to each other, share their stories of suffering and healing, and see other women’s strength. Cusson says this program is important, because it gives the women a spotlight.
“I mean it’s one thing to be successful, and every human on the face of the planet has been through something traumatic and we oftentimes hide it in the shadows. As many people know all too well, that’s where domestic violence thrives is in the shadows, so this shines a light on our strength rather than the other side of our story,” Cusson says.
More details on the platform will be released in the future.
Cusson will be hosting a fundraiser on Saturday June 26, with the funds going towards the Kelowna Women’s Shelter and the Salmon Arm Safe Society. The event takes place from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. outside the She Shed by the Shuswap Shore in Salmon Arm.
She has invited everyone to come out and support these critical local organizations.
Photo: pixabay
The Okanagan is in the middle of one of its worst droughts in many years, but it remains to be seen how the dry conditions will impact the Valley’s agricultural industry.
This past spring was the driest on record in both Kelowna and Vernon, while Penticton and Kamloops were also close to breaking records. And the dry and hot conditions have persisted through June, with forecast temperatures rising into the 40s this coming weekend.
Irrigation in the Okanagan is supplied from a number of diverse sources, but largely from upland reservoirs like the McCulloch Lake and Beaver Lake reservoirs.
“We wouldn’t be growing anything if we just relied on rain,” said Glen Lucas, general manager of the BC Fruit Growers Association.
“If it’s a little dry or a lot dry, as long as we have irrigation, the crop is fine … Most times, the waters from the upland reservoirs feed the water systems for farms and municipalities and I’m not aware of any cases where that’s been cut off due to drought. There have been some where there have been requests that irrigation be reduced, but those have been usually temporary and short-term and rare. Typically it’s not a concern.”
The decision to restrict agricultural water usage lies with the provincial government, but Lucas says measures like altering irrigation schedules would be implemented before restrictions.
Agriculture is the number one use of water in the Okanagan, but the Okanagan Basin Water Board’s Corrine Jackson says, “it feeds our community and our economy.”
She says Greater Vernon Water and the District of Lake Country have recently put out messaging to their agricultural water customers about maximizing water efficiency, due to concerns around a dry summer.
“It’s too early to tell what the summer holds, but all indications at this point suggest that we could be in for a severe drought, in which case it makes sense for us to be preparing now,” Jackson said. “It makes sense for agricultural customers to be making sure they don’t have leaks … and the same goes for residential users.
“We all have a part to play to make sure that we’re going to have enough water this summer for food crops that are going to be watered right into the fall. To ensure that we have enough water when it comes to firefighting this summer. And to ensure that we’ve got enough water for the fish when they start coming up stream to spawn.”
The latest provincial drought update, updated Wednesday, pegs the Okanagan basin at a “Drought Level 1,” on the six-level scale. “Adverse impacts to socio-economic or ecosystem values are rare” in Drought Level 1, according to the province. Local water restrictions become “likely,” when the drought level reaches Stage 3.
Meanwhile, the nearby Kettle Basin, Salmon River Basin and Nicola Basin are currently assessed at Drought Level 2, where adverse impacts remain “unlikely.”
Lucas says the Valley is seeing the effects of climate change today, and water utilities will have to adapt to an earlier melt season, and less precipitation later in the spring, in the decades to come.
“We’re seeing the change now, it happened this summer. We used to say, ‘Oh ya, 2050,’ but actually it happened this year,” Lucas said.
“We need to be more prepared to catch some of that early spring melt and rain instead of snow.”
He added the agricultural industry is also working to adopt new technologies that will see more efficient use of water during the growing season, like soil moisture probes that ensure crops are watered only when necessary.
“Usually it’s multiple-year droughts, not single-year droughts, that causes problems,” Lucas said. “If you have a drought for five years like you do in California, things change. Fortunately, we get the snowpack, a lot of moisture in the winter, and so we’re different from California in that way.
“But if we ever did have a particular water supplier that got into trouble with a low reservoir level, like it was in Summerland about 10 years ago, then certainly our organization works with the municipality and interacts with the famers to figure out the best way forward. If there’s not enough water, then there’s not enough water, so we have to manage that.”
And while it’s still early in the growing season, Lucas says he doesn’t anticipate any water-availability issues for Okanagan farmers.
“We don’t anticipate any issues in the short term here. But if it’s 40 C from now until the end of September every day, we’ll be talking in a month. But there’s no evidence that will happen.”
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